Roll of Honor
Incident
Sergeant John Melendez succumbed to injuries he received in an automobile crash while responding to backup another officer on a traffic stop. As he drove down a downgrade on the Haulove Inlet Bridge on Collins Avenue near Haulover Beach, he swerved to avoid hitting a car. His patrol vehicle went out of control and flipped several times. Officer Melendez's seatbelt malfunctioned, and the buckle broke, causing him to be ejected from the vehicle. He was transported to Parkway Regional Medical Center where he died two days later. The driver they were pursuing was apprehended and charged with speeding, fleeing a police officer, and reckless driving. Sergeant Melendez was a United States Navy veteran and had served with the Bal Harbour Police Department for five weeks and previously served as a reserve officer with the Biscayne Park Police Department. He is survived by his wife and two sons. Sergeant Melendez was posthumously promoted.
Survivors
He is survived by his wife and two sons.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-FL-9A707C65- Stewardship
- Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
- Added to badge.nw
- April 2, 2026
- Last updated
- July 23, 2026
Honored here by 1 sentinel - 1 tribute.
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Tributes
I served 1985 to 1993. You served too, before the badge - different uniform, same idea. You go where you are sent and you do not get to pick the call.
Sergeant Melendez served with the Bal Harbour Police Department.
Thank you for your service to the Bal Harbour community, and for your service before it. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, brother.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Military Service
John R. Melendez served in the United States military before joining law enforcement. Full service record available on salute.nw.
Sergeant John R. Melendez is one of 10,088 officers lost to accidents in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 31% of all 32,508 officers honored here.
In FL, 313 of 1,008 officers were lost to accidents in the line of duty — 31.1% of this state's fallen. That is 0.1 percentage points above the national rate of 31%.
At Bal Harbour Police Department, 1 of 2 officers on record were lost to accidents in the line of duty — 50% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Accident compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. John R. Melendez's cause is highlighted.
How John R. Melendez Compares
When Accident Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Accident deaths across the full memorial record. John R. Melendez is highlighted in Oct.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
1 officer from Bal Harbour Police Department are honored on badge.nw.
